Moldable sheet can be formed in hot water

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Bixby International Corp. claims it has developed a moldable plastic sheet that can be formed in hot water or hot air.

BixForm HiMod moldable plastics sheet is formable under 170° F tap water or by hot air to give products with flex modulus of 500,000, according to the Newburyport, Mass., company.

Bixby offers the sheet in thicknesses of 10 mil to 200 mil. It can be extruded in a range of colors and can incorporate surface treatments such as foams, felts, fabrics, printing and adhesives.

Bixby sales manager Dennis Lauzon would not disclose the composition of the sheet but claimed it is unique in having low forming temperatures and high flexural modulus.

Bixby supplies the sheet in standard 6 feet by 8 feet sizes.

Lauzon said the sheet is now being used in the medical market for orthopedic devices.Other potential markets are recreational goods and industrial packaging. The sheet can replace thermoforming in some applications and is capable of being reheated and reshaped.

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